Loris Karius to make Liverpool debut against Derby

Loris Karius will be handed his Liverpool debut against Derby County this evening.

The £4.7million summer signing has recovered from a hand injury and will replace Simon Mignolet in goal for tonight’s League Cup tie at Derby with the manager insisting he doesn’t have a No.1.

Reds’ boss Jürgen Klopp said: “What we want is two really strong goalkeepers and that is what I think we have got.

“Loris had an advantage in pre-season and he could not use it because of the injury. Simon came in this moment back from the national team and did a brilliant job.

“I really don’t want to make a big battle of these two goalkeepers, why should I? Goalkeepers need to feel secure but you can’t play your whole life as a keeper without conceding goals.

“You will always feel a bit guilty, more or less. But you need a manager who will say you can still stay and feel confident. I can’t say ‘today, him and then today him’. The pressure on the players is big enough.

“I don’t have to make any more, they have to do their best and then when I have a feeling for something I will change or not. It is not because we paid money for Loris and did not pay money last year for Simon that I make the decision.

“It is all about what I see in training, and what I see is two very good goalkeepers and another very good goalkeeper for the future who we gave to Huddersfield. The business is done. We don’t need to talk about this position. Now the boys have to perform.”

Asked if Mignolet would return to the team to face Hull at the weekend, Klopp said: “Where is my possibility to answer? When I say ‘yes’ what does it mean for Loris? If I say ‘no’ what does it mean for Simon?

“This question makes sense but the answer would not. There is no No 1 at this moment. There is no decision to make.

“It is just about performing and showing how good you are. For all the other players it is the same. I won’t say someone is our centre-half for the next 15 months.

“It is about performing and improving – showing how much you can help the team.”